Promotor sequence and gene construct for increasing crop yield in tomato

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a SP3D promotor sequence, capable of directing transcription of a downstream SP3D gene that is operably linked to said promotor sequence, wherein the promotor sequence is derived from a species of the Solanaceae family having a sympodial index of 2, for reducing sympodial index in plants having a sympodial index of 3 or more. The invention also relates to methods for providing plants of the Solanaceae family, in particular  S. lycopersicum , having a reduced sympodial index comprising of introducing into the genome of said plants a promotor sequence according to any of the claims  1 - 8  in operable linkage with a downstream SP3D gene, or introducing into said plants a gene construct according to any of the claims  9  to  15 , such that the sympodial index of the plant with the promotor sequence or gene construct is reduced as compared to the plant without said promotor sequence or gene construct, and to plants obtainable by said methods.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a promotor sequence which, when operably linked to a downstream plant gene in a plant, is capable of increasing crop yield in said plant, in particular in tomato. The invention further relates to plants of the Solanaceae family, in particular to tomato plants (Solanum lycopersicum), comprising said promotor sequence operably linked to said downstream plant gene, to methods for obtaining said plants and to plants obtainable by such methods.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum, also called Lycopersicon esculentum) is a plant of the Solanaceae or nightshade family. It is a short-lived perennial plant, grown as an annual plant, and a close relative of the potato. The fruit (i.e. the tomato) is an edible, brightly coloured (usually red, from the pigment lycopene) berry, 1-2 cm diameter in wild plants, commonly much larger in cultivated forms. The plant is now grown worldwide for its edible fruits, which are major fresh market vegetables worldwide.

The growth habit of tomato plants is commonly classified as determinate or indeterminate. This classification depends on the capacity of the shoot system for continued sympodial growth. Indeterminate cultivars (where the apical meristem grows indefinitely and flowers arise from the axillary meristem) produce branched systems that grow indefinitely, whereas determinate cultivars (where apical meristem is converted into terminal flower) produce branching systems with progressively fewer nodes until the shoot terminates with two inflorescences and develops the form of a bush. This change in plant architecture is due to a mutation in the SELF-PRUNING (SP) gene (Pnueli et al., Development 125: 1979-1989, 1998) and has been an important development for this crop, because determinate types can be harvested mechanically and are therefore mainly used for the processing industry, whereas indeterminate types are generally grown in greenhouses and are used for the fresh market.

Fridman et al. (Mol. Genet. Genomics 266: 821-826, 2002) previously have shown that introgression of a S. Pennellii allele of a QTL named PW9-2-5 in a sp/sp S. Esculentum background results in a semi-determinate growth with 2 leaves between the trusses (designated as spi=2). They suggested that the SP9D gene from S. Penellii, SP9Dpen, is the candidate gene for the change of plant architecture and also the so-called Solid Solid Content (SSC) or the refractive index (which is indirectly related to the taste). The SP9D gene belongs to the CETS gene family (CENTRORADIALIS, Terminal Flower) and it is believed that this gene family plays a key role in determining plant architecture (Carmel-Goren, Plant Mol. Biol. 52; 1215-1222, 2003).

S. lycopersicum has six CETS gene family members, named SP, distributed over five different chromosomes: SP2I, SP3D, SP5G, SP6A, and SP9D, wherein the names are given according to the bin position (Pan et al., Genetics 155: 309-322, 2000). The sixth member, SP, is located on chromosome 6, bin E, and is known to be the gene that alters the tomato in a determinate (sp/sp)/indeterminate (SP/−) phenotype. Phylogenetic relationships grouped SP3D, SP5G, and SP6A with the Arabidopsis FT gene. SP9D and SP are grouped with Arabidopsis TFL-1, and SP2I is in the same branch with the Mother of Flowering Time (MFT) of Arabidopsis (Carmel-Goren et al., supra). Despite the phylogenetic relationships between the genes, the expression profiles differ. Thus, SP5G expression has been found predominantly in cotelydons, whereas SP3D is expressed mainly in floral organs with low expression in vegetative organ leaves. For SP6A no expression

has been found sofar. SP9D is mainly expressed in the shoot apex and has a high expression in roots, whereas SP2I is expressed in all organs tested. In spite of these expression profiles little is known about their function with SP as an exception.

During the last decades, indeterminate tomato breeding was mainly focussed on yield, disease resistance, and fruit quality aspects such as uniform ripening and taste. Yield improvements have been achieved due to new production methods, improved pest management and varieties that are better suited for new production methods, but the gains in yield become smaller. New varieties with 5 or 15 fruits more per plant gave a yield increase of 2-4%.

Development of varieties with higher yield was hampered by the lack of knowledge regarding the aspects that determine tomato yield. Xiao (2004; ISHS Acta Horticulturae 654 (International workshop on models for plant growth and control of product quality in horticultural production) and Heuvelink (2005; ISHS Acta Horticulturae 691 (International Conference on sustainable greenhouse systems—greensys2004; 43-50) simulated that a tomato variety with two leaves between trusses instead of the conventional three leaves would shift assimilation towards the fruits, resulting in higher yields when the Leaf Area Index (LAI) is maintained. They validated the simulated data by removing every second leaf and keeping the LAI above 3. As simulated, the yield increased by roughly 10%.

Cultivated varieties with two leaves between the trusses are not known, however, there are wild tomato relatives with two leaves between the trusses, i.e. having a sympodial index=2 (spi=2), such as Solanum neorickii, Solanum chmielewskii, Solanum chilense, Solanum peruvianum, and Solanum pennellii. The property of a sympodial index of 2 is recessive to the sympodial index of 3 in cultivated tomatoes of F1 hybrids of the inter-species cross with S. penellii (Pnueli et al., 1998, supra). The genetic basis of spi=2, however, sofar is not known.

As the world population continues to grow, the demand for fresh vegetables, such as tomatoes, is ever increasing worldwide. Thus, a continuing need exists for means and methods for improving yield of vegetable plants, such as tomato.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the present invention is to provide novel means and methods for increasing crop yield in plants of the Solanaceae family.

The object of the present invention in particular is to provide novel means and methods for increasing crop yield in tomato, S. lycopersicum.

This object is achieved by providing a SP3D promotor sequence, which is capable of directing transcription of a downstream SP3D gene that is operably linked to said promotor sequence, wherein the promotor sequence is derived from a species of the Solanaceae family, having a sympodial index of 2, for reducing sympodial index in plants having a sympodial index of 3 or more.

In a preferred embodiment, the promotor sequence comprises a CA motif at a position 62-61 nucleotides upstream (i.e. at positions −62 and −61 nt) of the start codon of said SP3D gene.

In another preferred embodiment of the invention, said promotor sequence comprises a nucleotide sequence having at least 75% identity with nucleotides 1 to 624 of SEQ ID NO: 1 (FIG. 2).

According to a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the promotor sequence comprises a nucleotide sequence having at least 85%, more preferably at least 90%, more preferably at least 95%, and most preferably at least 99% identity with nucleotides 1 to 624 of SEQ ID NO: 1.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention is further illustrated by the following Examples and Figures.

FIG. 1 shows the primer sequences used for screening a S. pennellii BAC library and selection of plants.

FIG. 2 shows the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1, i.e. the genomic nucleotide sequence of the SP3Dpen gene including the promotor sequence (nucleotides 1-624). The CA motif has been indicated in bold and underlined; the grey boxes and double underlined region indicates the SP3D codon, lower case indicates a SNP in the CDS compared to S. lycopersicum.

FIG. 3 shows the alignment of SP3Desc cDNA and its amino acid translation (i.e. derived from S. lycopersicum (also known as L. esculentum)) with SP3Dpen cDNA and its amino acid translation, indicating that the 4 nucleotide changes (grey boxes) in the coding regions are synonymous.

FIG. 4 shows the alignment of the SP3Dpen promotor region of nucleotides 544-580 with other wild relatives of the Solanaceae family indicating that the CT or TA motifs indicated with an arrow are linked with spi=3 and a CA motif is associated with spi=2.

FIG. 5 shows the DNA sequence alignment of the SP3Dpen promotor region 1-624 with other wild relatives of the Solanaceae family, indicating that polymorphisms upstream and downstream of the CA motif are not linked to the properties of spi=2 or spi=3. Grey bars indicate a <49% match.

FIG. 6 is a breeding scheme of a F1 hybrid with and without SP3Dgene. Names in black boxes are SP3Dpen, white boxes are SP3Desc and grey boxes are heterozygous.

FIG. 7 is a table wherein the phenotypes for homozygous and heterozygous F1 hybrids are compared. The results given are the average results of 4 plants. 15751 is a S. lycopersicum plant of the invention, which comprises the promotor of the present invention in operable linkage with the SP3D gene in homozygous form, 15753 is a S. lycopersicum plant of the invention, which comprises the promotor/SP3D gene in heterozygous form. It is clear that both homozygous and heterozygous plants have a reduced sympodial index as compared to the plant 15769, which is a normal S. lycopersicum plant not comprising the promotor/SP3D gene genetic constitution of the invention. SPI is sympodial index. # fruits is the total number of harvestable fruits, trusses is the total number of trusses formed during the examination period (i.e. a total of 4 months) and “# leaves 1 truss” is the total number of leaves until the first truss.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In the research that has led to the present invention, a novel gene of the CETS gene family that gives rise to spi=2 was identified. Thus, introgression line 49015-2 containing a S. pennellii La716 insertion from chromosome 3 was demonstrated to give a sympodial index of 2. Based on map location and phenotype it was concluded that the property of spi=2 from line 49015-2 is caused by the SP3D gene from S. pennellii, which has been designated “SP3Dpen”.

According to the invention, it was subsequently found that the property of spi=2 was not caused by the gene itself but was due to regulation of the gene by said promotor. In particular, it was demonstrated that the sympodial index of 2 was linked to a CA motif in the promotor sequence 62-61 nt upstream of the start of the SP3D gene, i.e. the nucleotide at position −62 is C and the nucleotide on position −61 is A.

As described above, in the sympodial shoots of tomato (S. lycopersicum) the vegetative and reproductive phases alternate regularly. The primary shoot normally occurs after the production of 8-10 leaves and growth then continues from the uppermost lateral (axillary) bud just below the inflorescences. This shoot then generally generates three more leaves before terminating in turn with another florescence and so on. Thus, the shoot is predominantly composed of a number of reiterated sympodial units each consisting of three vegetative nodes and a terminal inflorescence, which is referred to as having a sympodial index of 3 (spi=3).

According to the present invention it has now been found that by introducing one of the above-described promotor sequences in operable linkage with a SP3D gene in a plant of the Solanaceae family having a sympodial index of 3 or more, a plant results having a reduced sympodial index as compared to plants not having said promotor.

In a preferred embodiment the sympodial index is reduced to a sympodial index of 2. Thus, preferably a plant results having a sympodial index of 2, i.e. plant of which the shoot is predominantly composed of sympodial units consisting of two vegetative nodes and a terminal inflorescence. According to the present invention, a “sympodial index of 2” relates to an average sympodial index between and including 1.6 and 2.5, preferably between 1.6 and 2.5, more preferably between 1.7 and 2.4, even more preferably between 1.8 and 2.3, most preferably between 1.9 and 2.2.

According to the invention, it has thus been found that the promotor sequence, when operably linked to a SP3D gene, leads to an increased crop yield in plants. Thus, for example, a plant having a sympodial index which is reduced from 3 to 2, will predominantly have two leaves between the trusses instead of three, such that the sympodia are roughly ⅓ shorter than the spi=3 counterpart, which will lead to an increased number of trusses per unit of length of the plant.

In addition, the successive trusses will appear earlier in time, such that also an increased number of trusses per time unit is obtained. Furthermore, It has been found that the promotor sequence leads to an increased crop yield without the semi-determinate growth habit of SP9Dpen.

Moreover, the promotor, when operably linked to the SP3D gene, gives rise to several other beneficial traits such as the occurrence of a first truss after 6-8 leaves instead of approximately 10 leaves. Furthermore, more fruits per truss (roughly one fruit more per truss) could be maintained in these plants. These characteristics result in an increased number of fruit clusters per meter or time unit and/or an increased number of fruits per cluster and therefore a higher crop yield.

It is noted that according to the present invention, the term “crop yield” is defined as the amount (for example expressed in kg) of product (for example fruit, e.g. tomatoes) per meter of shoot and branches of the plant, or per time unit (from initial planting till end of crop or termination of growth season, for example expressed in months). An increase in crop yield of plants comprising the promotor sequence of the invention relates to the increase in crop yield as compared to the crop yield of the same plants not comprising the promotor sequence of the invention.

In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the promotor sequence is derived from a species of the Solanaceae family selected from the group consisting of Solanum pennellii, Solanum neorickii, Solanum chmielewskii, Solanum chilense, and Solanum peruvianum.

In another preferred embodiment of the invention, said promotor sequence comprises a nucleotide sequence having at least 75% identity with nucleotides 1 to 624 of SEQ ID NO: 1 (FIG. 2).

According to a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the promotor sequence comprises a nucleotide sequence having at least 85%, more preferably at least 90%, more preferably at least 95%, and most preferably at least 99% identity with nucleotides 1 to 624 of SEQ ID NO: 1.

According to the present invention, the wording “a nucleotide sequence having X % identity” relates to a nucleotide sequence having a nucleotide sequence of which X % of the nucleotides is identical to the specific nucleotide sequence (i.e. of nucleotides 1 to 624) of SEQ ID NO: 1. This may thus encompass nucleotides sequences having the same number of 624 nucleotides, but wherein X % of the nucleotides is different as compared to nucleotides 1-624 of said SEQ ID NO: 1, and/or fragments of said part of SEQ ID NO: 1, comprising X % of the original nucleotides, (a mixed form is also possible). It should be understood that in all cases the CA motif should be present and the promotor should have promotor activity.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, the promotor sequence is derived from S. Pennellii and consists of the nucleotide sequence of nucleotides 1 to 624 of SEQ ID NO: 1.

It has thus been found according to the present invention that plants of the Solanaceae family, in particular S. lycopersicum, comprising the promotor sequence of the present invention, as defined above, in operable linkage with a SP3D gene, yield more kg of fruit, per meter of shoot and branches and/or per time unit, as compared to the same plants not comprising the promotor sequence of the invention.

It was previously reported by Lifschitz et al. (PNAS 103, 6398-6403, 2006) that the SP3D gene is the causal gene for the sft (single-flower truss) tomato mutant. The sft mutant plants are late flowering with a reduced number of flowers per inflorescence (1 or 2 flowers per truss) and have an indeterminate inflorescence. It was shown that the single-flower truss (sft) mutation is due to mutations in the SP3D gene. It was shown that plants highly expressing SFT under the control of the constitutive 35S promotor maintained the sympodial growth pattern but had a sympodial index of 2 instead of 3. Grafting of a sft mutant scion on 35S:SFT rootstock rescued the wild type phenotype (including spi=3), demonstrating that SP3D/SFT mediates its function by a systemic signal. The promotor sequence according to the present invention and its influence on the sympodial index, and consequently on crop yield of plants of the Solanaceae family, in particular of S. lycopersicum, have not been disclosed by Lifschitz et al.

The promotor sequence of the present invention may be introduced in operably linkage with any active SP3D gene.

In a preferred embodiment, the SP3D gene comprises a genomic nucleotide sequence having at least 75% identity with nucleotides 625 to 7307 of SEQ ID NO: 1. Preferably the sequence identity is 85%, more preferably, 90%, even more preferably 95% and most preferably 99%. The invention also relates to these SP3D genes per se.

In a particular preferred embodiment, the SP3D gene is the SP3D gene of S. pennellii, SP3Dpen, having a genomic nucleotide sequence consisting of nucleotides 625 to 7307 of SEQ ID NO: 1.

The present invention also relates to a gene construct, comprising a promotor sequence as described above and a cDNA sequence derived from a SP3D gene as described above. Such gene construct may for example be introduced into plants using known molecular biological techniques, in order to provide genetically, modified plants of the Solanaceae family, preferably S. lycopersicum, having a reduced sympodial index.

In a preferred embodiment, the cDNA sequence comprises a nucleotide sequence having at least 75% identity with the cDNA sequence of SP3Dpen as shown in FIG. 3. Preferably the sequence identity is 85%, more preferably, 90%, even more preferably 95% and most preferably 99%.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, the cDNA sequence consists of the nucleotide sequence as shown in FIG. 3.

The invention further relates to a method for providing plants of the Solanaceae family having a reduced sympodial index, comprising of introducing into the genome of a plant of the Solanaceae family having a sympodial index of 3 or more, a promotor sequence as described above in operable linkage with a downstream SP3D gene, or introducing into said plant a gene construct as described above, such that a plant results having a reduced sympodial index as compared to said plant without said promotor sequence.

In a preferred embodiment the sympodial index is reduced to a sympodial index of 2.

The invention further relates to a method for increasing crop yield in a plant of the Solanaceae family having a sympodial index of 3 or more, comprising of introducing into the genome of said plant a promotor sequence as described above, in operable linkage with a downstream SP3D gene, or introducing into said plant a gene construct as described above.

In preferred embodiments of the above-identified methods the plant is preferably selected from the group consisting of S. habrochaites, S. cheesmaniae, S. pimpinellifolium and S. lycopersicum, and/or plants derived therefrom. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the plant is S. lycopersicum. The term “plants derived therefrom” relates for example to plants derived from crossing two selected species, such as, for example, plants derived from a crossing between S. habrochaites and S. lycopersicum.

The promotor sequence, and/or the gene construct may be introduced into these plants by introgression through conventional breeding techniques, such as described below, or alternatively, by using suitable molecular biological techniques, which are well known to the skilled person. Introduction of the promotor sequence, or introduction of a suitable gene construct, comprising the promotor sequence and a cDNA sequence of a SP3D gene of the invention, into plant cells can for instance be effected by transfection, microinjection, electroporation, etc. It is also possible to use Agrobacterium mediated transformation. The cells may then subsequently be regenerated into whole plants.

According to the invention, it has been shown that by introducing the promotor sequence of the invention in operable linkage with a SP3D gene, or by introducing the gene construct of the invention in species of the Solanaceae family, that normally (i.e. without the promotor sequence) would have a sympodial index of 3 or more, for example a sympodial index of 3, now plants can be obtained having a reduced sympodial index, preferably a sympodial index of 2, which will lead to an increase in crop yield.

In addition, it has been found that, in the case of tomato, S. lycopersicum, the first truss occurs after 6-8 leaves instead of approximately 10 leaves. Furthermore, more fruits per truss (roughly one fruit more per truss) could be maintained in these plants. Thus, plants are obtained which will lead to an increased crop yield as compared to the same plants, not comprising the promotor sequence.

The promotor sequence of the invention may be introduced in operable linkage with a SP3D gene that is endogenous to the plant, i.e. with the SP3D gene that normally exists in said plant. In this case, only the promotor sequence is introduced, i.e. the endogenous promotor sequence is replaced by a selected recombinant of the promotor sequence of the invention, which is in operable linkage with the endogenous SP3D gene of said plant. It is, however, also possible to introduce both the promotor and the SP3D gene, or a gene construct according to the present invention as defined above. In case both the promotor and the SP3D gene are introduced in the plant, both are thus exogenous to said plant.

The invention furthermore relates to plants of the Solanaceae family, obtainable by said method, and having a reduced sympodial index, preferably having a sympodial of 2, as well as to seeds and other plant parts derived there from, such as plant cells, organs, and tissues, such as for example rootstocks. Normal practice in tomato breeding involves grafting of a tomato variety on a disease resistant rootstock to control soil-born diseases. Rootstocks generally are more vigorous than non-grafted tomatoes. Grafting may for example be executed on the epicotyls, before the first leaves, on a S. lycopersicum x wild relative hybrid.

The plant of the invention preferably is selected from the group consisting of S. habrochaites, S. cheesmaniae, S. pimpinellifolium and S. lycopersicum, and/or plants derived therefrom. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the plant is S. lycopersicum.

The invention furthermore also relates to a plant of the Solanaceae family, in particular plants normally having a sympodial index of 3 or more, comprising in its genome a promotor sequence as described above, in operable linkage with a SP3D gene, and thereby having a reduced sympodial index, preferably having a sympodial index of 2. Again, the SP3D gene may be endogenous or exogenous to the plant. The invention also relates to plant seeds and/or other plant parts as described above, derived from said plant.

The plant preferably is selected from the group of S. habrochaites, S. cheesmaniae, S. pimpinellifolium and S. lycopersicum, and/or plants derived therefrom,

Preferably, the plant is S. lycopersicum.

EXAMPLES Example 1 Cloning and Isolation of SP3Dpen

SP3D Solanum esculentum gene (accession number AY186735) has been used for cloning the Solanum pennelii 1a716 gene. A S. pennellii BAC library has been screened with primers SP3D-f2/SP3D-r: 40 cycli at 92° C. 30″, 60° C. 30″ and 72° C. 60″ resulting in BAC52, 1c06e11 harbouring SP3Dpen (FIG. 1).

BAC51, 1c06e11 was subsequently double digested with BamHI/SpeI and ligated in pUC18 XbaI/BamHI double digest to create sub clones. Subsequently, sub clones were screened with SP3D-f2/SP3D-r marker to identify the individual clone harbouring SP3Dpen. Clone KEZ504 has been sequenced and it contained the complete SP3D gene/locus from S. pennellii, designated as SP3Dpen, SEQ ID NO: 1 (FIG. 2). Comparison of S. lycopersicum SP3D cDNA, accession number AY186735, with the S. pennellii SP3D cDNA revealed that SP3Dpen had 4 nucleotide changes. Two single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) are located in the first exon on position 15 (T=>C) and 120 (C=>T), the third SNP is in the second exon on position 270 (C=>T) and the fourth SNP is positioned in the fourth exon, on position 387 (G=>A), see FIG. 3. All these SNPs were synonymous. It was therefore concluded that the property of spi=2 was not caused by the gene itself but due to regulation of the gene.

Example 2 Causal SNP in Promoter, Wild Relatives

One of the determination keys of Solanum species is sympodial index. Species with two leaves between trusses (spi=2) are Solanum neorickii, Solanum chmielewskii, Solanum chilense, Solanum peruvianum, and Solanum pennellii. Species with three leaves between trusses (spi=3) are S. habrochaites, S. cheesmaniae, S. pimpinellifolium and S. lycopersicum.

To verify the hypothesis that spi=2 is caused by a change upstream of the gene several wild relatives have been studied. Fifty-three wild relatives of the mentioned species were re-sequenced using primers SP3D-10fa and dSP3D-r1. Of the group of 53 wild relatives, 11 represented S. cheesmaniae, 2 represented S. chilense, 7 represented S. habrochaites, 10 represented S. neorickii, 1 represented S. pennellii, 7 represented S. peruvianum, 11 represented S. chmielewskii, 1 represented S. lycopersicum, and 3 represented S. pimpinellifolium.

Sequence comparisons revealed a CA motif 62-61 nucleotides upstream of gene initiation in all spi=2 relatives whereas spi=3 species exhibit a CT or TA nucleotide motif, see FIG. 4. Moreover, polymorphisms upstream and downstream of the CA motif where not linked with sympodial index (see FIG. 5).

Example 3 Phenotypes of F1 Hybrids with and without SP3Dpen

Introgression line 49015-2 harbouring the SP3Dpen from S. pennellii la716 has been crossed with Enza Zaden S. lycopersicum lines OT1464 and OT1690. The resulting F1 hybrids have been backcrossed with OT1464 or selfed in the case of the OT1690 cross. Plants with SP3Dpen were selected with dCAPS marker dSP3D-1fr; primers dSP3D-f/dSP3D-r, PCR conditions 40 cycli at 92° C. 30″, 55° C. 60″ and 72° C. 60″, digested by HpyCH4V, separated on 3% ms-8 agarose (Hispanagar). Besides the dSP3D-1fr marker, marker assisted backcross has been used to identify the highest recurrent parent, as known for those who are skilled in the art, resulting in plant NT05-96e11 for the OT1464 background and NT05-108h10 and NT05-108e12 for the OT1690 background. These individual plants were 2 times selfed, selected again with dSP3D marker and by marker assisted backcross, resulting in plants 111B6 for the OT1464 background and plants 117F1 and 117G1 for the OT1690 background. Thereafter F1 hybrids where made by crossing 111B6×111F1 resulting in 15751 (homozygous SP3Dpen), 111B6×117G1 resulting in 15753 (heterozygous) and OT1690×OT1464 resulting in 15769 as the SP3Desc homozygous control, see FIG. 6.

Four plants per hybrid were grown in the greenhouse during June 2006—end October 2006 under normal growing practice and evaluated for sympodial index by counting the number of leaves between successive trusses, number of leaves till first truss, average fruit weight, yield, number of fruit and trusses. The average sympodial index was 2.4 for SP3Dpen, 2.5 for heterozygous plants and 2.7 for SP3Desc (FIG. 7). As expected the number of leaves till first truss has changed and decreased from 7.5 for Sp3Desc to 5.8 for Sp3Dpen and heterozygous hybrids. The average fruit weight was similar between hybrids ranging from 57 till 59 g/fruit. As expected the number of trusses increased, 9 for SP3Desc to 14 for SP3Dpen. The number of fruit per truss increased from 6.7 for SP3Desc to 7.6 for SP3Dpen. This adds roughly 0.7 kg to the total yield of homozygous SP3Dpen F1 hybrids during this growth period.

These data reveal that the total yield improvement observed after 5 months in the plants comprising the promotor sequence of the invention as compared to plants not comprising said promotor sequence, is due to an increased number of trusses and in the case of homozygous SP3Dpen also to an increased number of fruits per truss. As a result, the total yield of 4 plants per hybrid is improved from 3.5 kg to 5.0 kg and 6.0 kg for SP3Desc, SP3Desc/pen and SP3Dpen respectively.

The yield improvement by SP3Dpen is due to the promotor sequence of SP3Dpen, comprising the CA motif 62-61 nucleotides upstream of start of the gene. 

1. An SP3D promotor sequence, capable of directing transcription of a downstream SP3D gene that is operably linked to said promotor sequence, wherein the promotor sequence is derived from a species of the Solanaceae family having a sympodial index of 2, for reducing sympodial index in plants having a sympodial index of 3 or more.
 2. The SP3D promotor sequence according to claim 1, wherein said promotor sequence comprises a CA motif at a position 62-61 nucleotides upstream of the start codon of said SP3D gene.
 3. The SP3D promotor sequence according to claim 1, wherein the promotor sequence is derived from a species of the Solanaceae family, selected from the group consisting of S. pennellii, S. neorickii, S. chmielewskii, S. chilense, and S. peruvianum.
 4. The SP3D promotor sequence according to claim 1, wherein said promotor sequence comprises a nucleotide sequence having at least 75% identity with nucleotides 1 to 624 of SEQ ID NO:
 1. 5. The SP3D promotor sequence according to claim 4, comprising a nucleotide sequence having at least 85% identity with nucleotides 1 to 624 of SEQ ID NO:
 1. 6. The SP3D promotor sequence according to claim 5, comprising a nucleotide sequence having at least 90% identity with nucleotides 1 to 624 of SEQ ID NO:
 1. 7. The SP3D promotor sequence according to claim 6, comprising a nucleotide sequence having at least 95% identity with nucleotides 1 to 624 of SEQ ID NO:
 1. 8. The SP3D promotor sequence according to claim 7, comprising a nucleotide sequence having at least 99% identity with nucleotides 1 to 624 of SEQ ID NO:
 1. 9. The SP3D promotor sequence according to claim 3, wherein the promotor sequence is derived from S. pennellil and consists of the nucleotide sequence of nucleotides 1 to 624 of SEQ ID NO:
 1. 10. A gene construct comprising a promotor sequence according to claim 1 and a cDNA sequence derived from a plant SP3D gene.
 11. The gene construct according to claim 10, wherein the cDNA sequence comprises a nucleotide sequence having at least 75% identity with the cDNA sequence of SEQ ID NO:
 7. 12. The gene construct according to claim 11, wherein the cDNA sequence comprises a nucleotide sequence having at least 85% identity with the cDNA sequence of SEQ ID NO:
 7. 13. The gene construct according to claim 12, wherein the cDNA sequence comprises a nucleotide sequence having at least 90% identity with the cDNA sequence of SEQ ID NO:
 7. 14. The gene construct according to claim 13, wherein the cDNA sequence comprises a nucleotide sequence having at least 95% identity with the cDNA sequence of SEQ ID NO:
 7. 15. The gene construct according to claim 14, wherein the cDNA sequence comprises a nucleotide sequence having at least 99% identity with the cDNA sequence of SEQ ID NO:
 7. 16. The gene construct according to claim 10, wherein the cDNA sequence consists of the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:
 7. 17. A method for providing plants of the Solanaceae family having a reduced sympodial index comprising introducing into the genome of said plants an SP3D promotor sequence, capable of directing transcription of a downstream SP3D gene that is operably linked to said promotor sequence, wherein the promotor sequence is derived from a species of the Solanaceae family having a sympodial index of 2, or introducing into said plants a gene construct comprising an SP3D promotor sequence, capable of directing transcription of a downstream SP3D gene that is operably linked to said promotor sequence, wherein the promotor sequence is derived from a species of the Solanaceae family having a sympodial index of 2 and a cDNA sequence derived from a plant SP3D gene such that the sympodial index of the plant with the promotor sequence or gene construct is reduced as compared to the plant without said promotor sequence or gene construct.
 18. The method according to claim 17, wherein the sympodial index is reduced to a sympodial index of
 2. 19. A method for increasing crop yield in a plant of the Solanaceae family having a sympodial index of 3 or more, comprising of introducing into the genome of said plant an SP3D promotor sequence, capable of directing transcription of a downstream SP3D gene that is operably linked to said promotor sequence, wherein the promotor sequence is derived from a species of the Solanaceae family having a sympodial index of 2, in operable linkage with a downstream SP3D gene, or introducing into said plant a gene construct comprising an SP3D promotor sequence, capable of directing transcription of a downstream SP3D gene that is operably linked to said promotor sequence, wherein the promotor sequence is derived from a species of the Solanaceae family having a sympodial index of 2 and a cDNA sequence derived from a plant SP3D gene.
 20. The method according to claim 17, wherein the plant is selected from the group consisting of S. habrochaites, S. cheesmaniae, S. pimpinellifolium and S. lycopersicum.
 21. The method according to claim 20, wherein the plant is S. lycopersicum.
 22. A plant, obtainable by the method according to claim
 17. 23. Seed and/or other plant parts derived from a plant according to claim
 22. 24. A plant of the Solanaceae family, comprising in its genome a promotor sequence according to claim 1 in operable linkage with a SP3D gene, wherein said plant has a reduced sympodial index, as compared to the same plant without said promotor sequence.
 25. The plant according to claim 24, wherein the plant is selected from the group consisting of S. habrochaites, S. cheesmaniae, S. pimpinellifolium and S. lycopersicum.
 26. The plant according to claim 25, wherein the plant is S. lycopersicum.
 27. The plant according to claim 24, having a sympodial index of
 2. 28. Seed and/or other plant parts derived from a plant according to claim
 24. 29. The method according to claim 19, wherein the plant is selected from the group consisting of S. habrochaites, S. cheesmaniae, S. pimpinellifolium and S. lycopersicum.
 30. The method according to claim 29, wherein the plant is S. lycopersicum.
 31. A plant, obtainable by the method according to claim
 19. 32. Seed and/or other plant parts derived from a plant according to claim
 31. 